Jean M. (Jackson) Fox, 93, of Colfax, Wisconsin, died peacefully at her home on October 12, 2024, after a brief battle with cancer. Jean was born on March 7, 1931, to Lynn and Evelyn (Welke) Jackson and was the oldest of seven children. She grew up in Menomonie and Eau Claire and was a 1949 graduate of Eau Claire High School. After graduation, she went on to nursing school and graduated from the Luther School of Nursing in 1952.

Nursing was her natural calling and while starting out as a pediatric nurse at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, then in a private pediatric practice, the majority of her career was spent in geriatric nursing at the Mulder Nursing Home in West Salem, then as the DON at the Colfax Health and Rehabilitation Center (formerly the Colfax Area Nursing Home). Jean was very dedicated to her work in long-term care and strived to ensure the frail and elderly were treated with care and dignity. She was honored for her efforts in 2008 when she was recognized for her years of dedication and service by the Wisconsin Health Care Association and the Wisconsin Center for Assisted Living and awarded the Shining Star Nurse of the Year.

Jean married Vernon Fox on October 4, 1952, the two were later blessed with three children, Nancy, Michael and Karen.  After Vern retired from the Air Force, the family lived in Neillsville, then Onalaska before finally building their forever home on Tainter Lake in 1971.

Travelling was one of Jean's favorite pastimes. As a family, she and Vern would load up the kids, fill the picnic basket and cooler with fruit and sandwiches and of course a thermos full of coffee, then set out to drive around the US visiting the friends they had made while Vern was in the military and many relatives. After Vern passed away in 1998, Jean began her solo driving career traveling around the US to attend the annual "Izmir, Turkey re-union", driving with her sister in-law Rosie to Washington State to visit Rosie's daughter, her yearly trips to Texas to spend Thanksgiving with her son Michael and family and driving to the many family celebrations around the state for her nieces and nephews. She was so blessed to be able to return to Izmir, Turkey and revisit the area she, Vern and the children once lived. She was also able to travel to India, Brazil, the Czech Republic, the Holy Land and the WWII Memorials and Cemeteries in Great Britain, France and Germany.

Jean had two beehives that generated plenty of honey and beeswax, but she had to give it up when she had a severe allergic reaction to a bee sting.  She then turned her attention to the many birds that made Tainter Lake their home.  You could always find a pair of binoculars and a bird book on the desk that overlooked the lake.

Jean is preceded in death by her parents, Lynn Jackson and Evelyn Dohms and stepfather, Shirley Dohms. Husband, Vernon and daughter Nancy Knutson-Link. Sisters, Beverly Bowers and Yvonne Troen. Brothers Keith Jackson and Gary Jackson. Sisters-in-law Yvonne Jackson and Rose Fox and brother-in-law Lloyd Fox and parents-in-law Alma (Gerike) and Frank Fox.

She is survived by her children, Michael (Kathie) Fox, Karen (Mike) Knutson and son in-law Steven Link. Brothers Myron Jackson and Lane (Sandy) Jackson. Brothers-in-law Bob Bowers and Everett Fox and sister-in-law Dee (Mike) Jackson-Long. Grandchildren, Amy Knutson, Aaron Knutson, Afton (Justin) McCoy, Michael (Naomi) Fox, Brody (Jessica) Knutson, Cameron (Aleha) Knutson, Samantha Fox, Alexandria (Andrew Walley) Fox and Devyn (Matt) McCauley. Great grandchildren, Alyssa Rice, Brayden Knutson, Gabe Knutson, Josiah Knutson, Isabelle Knutson, Liam Wagner, JT Wagner, Adysan Knutson, Mathew Knutson, Lilly Knutson, Landin Knutson, Eli McCoy, Levi McCauley, Laylah McCauley, Arthur Walley and Nedra Walley. Great-Great grandchildren, Sophia Stone and Amara Robinson. Jean also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and grand and great-grand nieces and nephews all of whom she dearly loved.

A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, October 26th at Tainter United Methodist Church, N7584 690th St. Colfax, WI with a Celebration of Life immediately following in the fellowship hall. A visitation will be held at the church one hour before the service.  A private graveside service will take place at a later date. Arrangements were entrusted to Sampson Funeral Home.  Online condolences for Jean's family may be left at www.sampsonfuneralhome.com.